The thousand and one ways of being a T cell.
Developing T cells diverge to several different effector classes, identified by their ability to express different set of genes. Aside from the genes encoding components of the TCR/CD3, there are many others that are activated and/or inactivated during T-cell development, but the functions of most of them are not yet defined. Despite the significant progress made, several fundamental aspects of the major steps of T-cell differentiation remains unclear. Thus, while long ago it was realized that the thymus is a central organ for the development of functionally competent T lymphocytes, it appears clear today that ectopic T-cell differentiation can also take place. In this article we review some of the molecules implicated in T-cell development and discuss some of the pathways that lead to mature T cells from precursors, both intra- and extra-thymically, as well as their implications in the acquisition of self tolerance.
Martinez
C
C
Centro de Biologia Molecular (CSIC), Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Spain.
Gutierrez-Ramos
J C
JC
de la Pompa
J L
JL
Leonardo
E
E
Sanchez
M J
MJ
Alonso
J M
JM
Toribio
M L
ML
D002454:Cell Differentiation; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology
D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell